Bottle Feeding
- How to Find the Right Formula
- How to Find the Right Bottle
- Supplementation While Bottle Feeding
- Bottle Feeding Tips
- Bottle Feeding Resources
Whether it breast milk from a bottle, or formula, many parents are opting to bottle feed their infant (multitude of reasons). There is no doubt that breast milk provides the best nutrition for babe, however this may not be an option for some.
Note to some mothers: If your only reason for choosing formula feeding over breastfeeding is you think it’ll be easier, think again. Unfortunately, formula feeding can cause a host of potential problems: colic, acid reflux, eczema, allergy, and constipation/diarrhea to name a few. I’m not saying this to scare anyone, these are just facts.
How to Find the Right Formula
This is the tricky part. Most infant formulas out there, even the organic options, have ingredients (first reported here) that can be detrimental to babe. If breastfeeding is not an option, I give most of my patients four options to feed babe:
- Find a Milk Sharing group in your area: Eats on Feets and Human Milk for Human Babies are great groups! (I donated to “Eats on Feets.” Each chapter has a Facebook page, and when I had extra milk to give away, I’d let the group know and within a few hours, a mama who needed it showed up at my door!)
- Make your own: Westin A. Price Foundation has the best recipe I can find.
- Import from Europe: Holle (I see it’s on Amazon, but I’m not too comfortable buying baby formula here without knowing who the distributor is?)
- Goat Milk Formula (Meyenberg Brand): Recipe Here -OR- Nanny Care (to purchase)
Disclaimer: Please consult with your pediatrician to pick the best option for your family.
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How to Find the Right Bottle
- Guide to Baby-Safe Bottles and Formula (Environmental Working Group- EWG)
- How to Choose the Right Bottle for your Baby
- I use Lifefactory
, and I love them! They are made of glass, with a silicone cover. As your child grows you can switch out the bottle top for a sippy lid, no need to purchase sippy cups!
Supplementation While Formula Feeding
If you plan to formula feed, you may want to consider supplementing (be sure to consult with your pediatrician before beginning any new regimen):
- Infant probiotic (I use HMF natogen, Klaire Ther-biotic Infant, or culturelle)
- DHA (if not included in the formula, I use Pharmax DHA liquid)
- Vitamin D (if not included in the formula, I use Pharmax D-Mulsion)
The above supplements can be purchased by clicking on the HealthWave link below. Sign up for free and gain access to thousands of physician’s discounted professional line supplements.
Bottle Feeding Tips
- How to Bottle Feed the Breastfed Baby (kellymom)
Bottle Feeding Resources
- Find Safer Baby Formula (HealthyChild.org)
- Breastmilk The Movie (A wonderful movie to watch if you are a mother who would really like to keep breastfeeding, though struggling.
- How to Bottle Feed the Breastfed Baby (kellymom)
- Comparing Formula and Breastmilk (for Dummies- the brand)
Reviewed/Updated: 09/14
Content Created: 05/14
